ADVERTISEMENT

Commodities

Wind Power in Germany Slumps Just as Cold Weather Boosts Demand

(Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- Wind power in Germany is set to drop to almost nothing on Friday as temperatures turn more chilly prompting households to turn up their thermostats. 

Generation from wind turbines is forecast to remain low next week, according to Bloomberg’s model. This will increase the need for more dirty, more expensive plants like lignite and coal to step in to meet demand.

German electricity prices for next week rose as much as 3% while power for delivery tomorrow jumped 36% to €130.25 a megawatt-hour, the highest since Nov. 12. The French day-ahead auction cleared at €114.25 a megawatt-hour, the highest since Nov. 14 on the the Epex Spot SE exchange. 

The “Dunkelflaute” phenomenon — known in power markets by the German word for periods when little to no solar or wind energy can be produced — poses a significant issue for energy infrastructure that relies on renewables. A similar event earlier this month sent prices to levels last seen during the energy crisis.

Wind speeds have been particularly volatile this month with Storm Bert blowing through the continent earlier this week. Wind generation in Germany will fall below 5 gigawatts on Friday, from a peak of 46.6 gigawatts early on Thursday morning. 

It’s not just Germany. Wind output in the UK fell below 4 gigawatts earlier on Thursday prompting greater use of gas-fired power plants. 

Gas was providing 27% of the power needed to meet demand at 1:27 pm London time compared to 17% wind and 7% nuclear, according to data from the National Energy System Operator. 

 

--With assistance from Eamon Akil Farhat.

©2024 Bloomberg L.P.